U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau has stressed the importance of a balanced and mutual trade agreement with India during his speech at the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi on Thursday.
Landau expressed the U.S.’s keenness to expand its alliance with India, while ensuring the partnership remains advantageous for U.S. interests. “It has to be obviously based on reciprocity and mutual respect,” he stated.
The Deputy State Secretary conveyed hopefulness about the current trade discussions, indicating that a bilateral trade agreement was close to the “finish line”.
However, he warned India that the U.S. would not replicate the errors made with China two decades ago, where China was permitted to establish markets and subsequently surpassed the U.S. in several business sectors, such as manufacturing and technology.
“India should understand that we’re not going to make the same mistakes with India that we made with China 20 years ago,” he said.
Despite his cautionary remarks, Landau portrayed India as one of the most significant partnerships for Washington in the future. He anticipates the 21st century to witness the “rise of India”, due to its demographic size, economic potential, and strategic relevance.
Landau Critiques Past US Decisions
Landau’s remarks pointed to U.S. policy errors that aided China’s emergence as an economic powerhouse.
The Deputy Secretary is most probably referring to the time around China’s entry to the World Trade Organization (WTO). From 1980–2000, China’s Most Favored Nation (MFN) status was reviewed annually by the U.S. Congress, often linked to political issues. In 2000, Congress granted China permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) under former President Bill Clinton, ending yearly reviews. A year later, China entered the WTO.
He contextualized his comments within President Donald Trump‘s “America First” foreign policy strategy, asserting that U.S. diplomacy should primarily serve American national interests.
India Vs China As Trading Partner
Divakar Vijayasarathy, founder and CEO of DVS Advisory Group, told Benzinga that the new U.S.–India trade deal has the potential to “tilt the spreadsheet” for U.S. multinationals weighing China alternatives. The strategist said that the supply-chain shift would not be immediate, but it would make India more attractive for corporate America.
India was always a contender, he said, but tariffs, regulatory complexity, and execution risk slowed progress.
Landau’s comments also come as China has set its lowest economic growth target since the 1990s this week, amid what it called exceptionally “grave and complex” challenges.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by a Benzinga editor.
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